Training can be Frustating

Arrgh the frustation of it all - not sure if its because my training isn't going well or it is going well and I'm frustrated that I don't think I'm doing enough of it nor do I feel like I'm getting any faster!!! I can't seem to get beyond the 10 to 12 workouts a week that I've been doing for the past couple of weeks. I was hoping to move up to 15 workouts a week but it hasn't happened yet. Why? because I'm usually knackered, toast, done by the time Sunday rolls around. I know, I know 12 - 15 workouts a week what the hell!!! most people would be happy with 3 or 4. I guess I have to start living more like a parent of two than a guy with no family responsiblities and a full time job that seems to be taking up more and more of my time. I guess part of my problem hence the frustation is I don't like entering races which I've hardly prepared for. I think it might be that runners mentality of not wanting to comprise on training as that leads to comprismising elsewhere in life. But I have too (at least a little bit) I don't make a living from running or sport so it should be lower on the my list of priorites than it is.


Training for races is supposed to be enjoyable, its supposed to be fun, that's why we took up these sports to begin with, its not supposed to be something you start to hate. Yes some workouts are tough and you dread doing them, but when they are done you think that was good - and the body tells you that it was good or not. 


With that in mind I have decided that I'm going to spent one day on the weekend being a father and not do any training or think about sport unless its on the TV. Rather than take a rest day/night during the week I'm going to take either a Saturday or a Sunday as the rest day and then an easier long run or bike day before or after. My thinking behind this is if you take a week day as a rest day you don't rest as mch as you should. Why because during the week you are at work and lets just say sometimes work can be tiring (to say the least). It's also easier for me to train at lunchtime during the week than it is on the weekends. I have also given up on the idea of training 3 times a day every day - realistically its not doable just due to the times that I would have to start the first training session (around 6:00am and then 8:00 - 8:30pm when I start the third session). Twice a day is enough, if I can't get enough training in with two sessions then I can't get it done and I'll continue with that, depending on my work schedule it's possible that the times of the sessions will change.


As an Athlete you have to remember that recovery is as important as the workout - Too many workouts and not enough recovery lead to injury and illness. After all what is the point of all that training if yo don't get to the start line of the race in one piece?